The Yoovidhya family, co-owners of Red Bull, tops our October 2026 ranking of the richest people in Thailand, with a fortune we estimate in the tens of billions of dollars. This list ranks Thai families and tycoons by our valuation model. Where we found no newer dated basis, we keep our 2014 figure with its year instead of adjusting it.
| Rank | Name | Our estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chalerm Yoovidhya and family | Roughly $15 to $25 billion (our estimate) |
| 2 | Dhanin Chearavanont and family | Well over $10 billion (not point-valued) |
| 3 | Sarath Ratanavadi | Roughly $10 billion or more (our estimate) |
| 4 | Chirathivat family | Multi-billion (not point-valued) |
| 5 | Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi and family | $11.3 billion (our 2014 figure) |
| 6 | Santi Bhirombhakdi and family | $2.8 billion (our 2014 figure) |
| 7 | Sophonpanich family | $1.5 billion (our 2014 level) |
1. Chalerm Yoovidhya and family: Roughly $15 to $25 billion
Chalerm Yoovidhya is the son of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the Thai co-founder of Red Bull. Red Bull’s revenue rose by more than 8% to $13.9 billion in 2025, with close to 14 billion cans sold worldwide.
The family’s holding in the Austrian parent company is held mostly through private structures, and reports differ on its exact size.
How we valued it: Our estimate applies a revenue multiple of two to three times to Red Bull’s 2025 sales of $13.9 billion and credits the Yoovidhya family with roughly half. The ownership split is private, so this is a range. Our 2014 figure was $9.9 billion.
2. Dhanin Chearavanont and family: Well over $10 billion
Dhanin Chearavanont is the senior chairman of CP Group, a food, retail and telecom conglomerate. Its listed arms include CP All, the convenience store operator, Charoen Pokphand Foods and True Corporation, which closed on 26 October 2026 at 44, 20.2 and 13 baht a share.
The family’s combined stake across these and unlisted companies has not been disclosed in a form we could add up.
How we valued it: We have the prices of the listed arms but not a verified share count for the family, so we give no point figure. Our 2014 figure was $11.5 billion.
3. Sarath Ratanavadi: Roughly $10 billion or more
Ratanavadi is the founder and CEO of Gulf Development, which runs power generation, telecom and infrastructure. In 2025 he merged Gulf Energy Development with Intouch Holdings, creating a group valued at about $25 billion, and Gulf has since taken a stake in Kasikornbank.
Gulf closed at 61.75 baht on 26 October 2026.
How we valued it: We start from the $25 billion value of the 2025 merged group and assume his stake is a large minority to a controlling share. His exact holding is not verified, so we use a range.
4. Chirathivat family: Multi-billion
The Chirathivat family controls Central Group, which operates department stores, malls, hotels and restaurants. The group bought the Italian department store chain La Rinascente in 2011 for a reported $291 million.
Listed arms Central Retail Corporation and Central Plaza Hotel closed at 32.25 and 46 baht on 26 October 2026.
How we valued it: We could not verify the family’s share counts, so we give a tier, not a figure.
5. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi and family: $11.3 billion (2014)
Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi is the founder of Thai Beverage and chairman of TCC Group. The family’s stake in Thai Beverage is around 30%. The group won Fraser and Neave in a $11.2 billion takeover and bought a controlling 58.6% of Big C Supercenter for 3.1 billion euros in 2016.
Thai Beverage closed at 0.44 Singapore dollars on 26 October 2026.
How we valued it: We keep the 2014 figure of $11.3 billion with its year because we could not verify the current share count.
6. Santi Bhirombhakdi and family: $2.8 billion (2014)
The Bhirombhakdi family runs Boon Rawd Brewery, the Thai brewer founded in 1933 that makes Singha and Leo beers.
How we valued it: Unchanged since 2014; no newer deal or filing was found.
7. Sophonpanich family: $1.5 billion (2014)
The Sophonpanich family founded Bangkok Bank. Chatri Sophonpanich, its long-time chairman, died in 2018. Bangkok Bank closed at 185 baht on 26 October 2026.
How we valued it: We keep the family at about $1.5 billion, close to the $1.6 billion in our 2014 list, since no newer basis exists.
No longer on the list
Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, the founder of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, died in April 2026. Vanich Chaiyawan, the chairman of Thai Life Insurance, died in June 2025. They are removed from the 2026 ranking, along with several other 2014 names for whom we have no current basis.
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Who is the richest person in Thailand in 2026?
The Yoovidhya family, co-owners of Red Bull, led by Chalerm Yoovidhya. We estimate their fortune at roughly $15 billion to $25 billion.
Who is second?
The Chearavanont family of CP Group, whose wealth we place well over $10 billion.
Why do some entries show 2014 figures?
We found no newer dated basis for them, so we keep the earlier figure with its year instead of adjusting it.
What do the richest Thais have in common?
Most built their fortunes in food, beverages, retail and power, often across several generations of the same family.
How are the figures calculated?
From company sales, deal values and share prices on 26 October 2026, with ranges where ownership is private.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this list we used company revenue, merger valuations, share prices on 26 October 2026 and reported stakes, and we label every figure we could not update.
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Last updated: October 2026.
